PENINSULA Transport Assist wants more volunteer drivers to join the low-cost service that gets clients to where they need to go.
The service, established in July 2013, was started to tackle chronic transport disadvantage and related social isolation both on the Mornington Peninsula and in Frankston.
The target clients are people who cannot get to medical or social appointments and fully engage and participate within their community.
While the service costs about half the price of a taxi and for medical appointments clients are personally escorted to the destination and back.
PTA president Nick Jones said volunteer drivers pick up clients from their own home, take them to their appointment, stay with them for up to three hours and then return them home.
The driver is reimbursed only for the distance travelled to and from their home and the client is charged only from their home to their appointment, with no time charge.
The PTA also has five 12-seater buses and one bus that was paid for by Transport for Victoria for disabled access for two wheelchairs and up to six other passengers.
Volunteers must be police checked and have completed a driving assessment through an independent driving instructor and all cars are assessed to meet minimum safety standards.
For bookings go to peninsulatransportassist.org/need-a-lift/
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 24 May 2022
